LAFAYETTE — Fatal hit-and-run suspect Yariel Lunice Nicole Butler bailed out of jail before formal charges were filed, which increased the likelihood of her returning to jail after charges were filed with a higher bond.

That is precisely what happened at 2:40 a.m. Friday when Butler surrendered herself after learning about a warrant for her re-arrest.

On Wednesday, Magistrate Dan Moore issued that warrant after finding probable cause for the state's charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury and leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury.

Moore also approved the state's request for a higher bond with the formal charges filed last week.

Butler was arrested Aug. 2 and bonded out later that day after posting a $5,000 surety bond and $500 cash bond.

After charges were filed, that bond was increased to $15,000 surety and $1,500 cash. Butler may apply her Aug. 2 bond to the higher amount, according to Moore's Aug. 8 order.

But Butler's attorney, Russell Brown Jr., filed a motion Friday asking that her bond be lowered to the amount she's already posted.

The reasons cited in the motion are because Butler has no prior contact with police, she cooperated with police in the investigation and she has family in Tippecanoe County. Additionally, the motion asserts that Butler is not a flight risk.

Butler had her initial hearing Friday at the courtroom inside the Tippecanoe County Jail. Her jury trial is set for Dec. 11.

As for reducing her bond, Tippecanoe Superior 5 Judge Kristen McVey, who presided over Friday's hearings, declined to hear the bond reduction issue without a prosecutor there to argue the state's opinion on the motion.

The earliest that Butler's bond reduction motion can be heard will be Thursday, according to the information discussed during the hearing.

Prosecutors suspect Butler was driving her Ford Explorer northbound on U.S. 52 about 4:30 a.m. Aug. 1 and struck three people standing by a tow truck at the intersection with Indiana 28.

Robert Carley, the tow-truck driver, suffered less serious injuries in the crash. He was treated at a local hospital and later released.

Karrie Olive manages Joey's Enterprise — the wrecker service that Carley works for — attended Friday's hearing. She had no comment about the case, but when asked how Carley as doing, she said he's going to make a full recovery.

In the heavy fog in two hours before the sun rose Aug. 1, Butler swerved at the last minute, avoiding heavy impact with the tow truck, but striking Peacock, McDole and Carley, according to police.

Her SUV traveled into the ditch, then back onto the road, continuing northwest towards Lafayette, according to the accident investigators.

About 24 hours after the crash, a Lafayette police officer noticed Butler driving a heavily damaged SUV that matched the description from Wednesday's crash. He stopped the SUV — which police say Butler was driving — near Miller Elementary School on South Fourth Street.

Butler was arrested Aug. 2 and was released after she posted bond later that day.